Modular die with quick change die tip or nozzle

Abstract

An adhesive dispensing die module for mounting on a manifold incudes (a) a die body having formed therein polymer and air flow passages, and a valve for selectively closing the polymer flow passage and (b) a die tip or die nozzle detachably mounted on the die body. The die tip or die nozzle is secured to the die body by a pair of clamping members depending from the die body and adapted to engage die tip or die nozzle therebetween. The clamping members can selectively be moved toward one another to clampingly secure the die tip or die nozzle therebetween or moved away from one another to release the die tip or die nozzle, permitting it to be replaced without the need to remove the die module from the manifold.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A die module for dispensing a polymer melt comprising: 
       (a) a die body having  
       (i) an air flow passage formed therein  
       (ii) a polymer melt flow passage formed therein,  
       (iii) valve means for opening and closing said polymer melt flow passage; and  
       (iv) a nozzle mounting surface;  
       (b) a nozzle positioned on said mounting surface of said die body and having at least one orifice formed therein and air passages formed therein, said orifice and said air passages being in fluid communication with said polymer melt flow passage and said air passage of said die body, respectively, and  
       (c) a clamping structure affixed to said die body for clamping said nozzle securely to said mounting surface of said die body by the application of clamping force on opposite sides of said nozzle with a force component substantially parallel to said nozzle mounting surface, said clamping structure including a hinged member pivotally affixed to said die body and pivotally movable between a clamped position and an unclamped position thereby permitting said nozzle to be removed from said mounting surface.  
     
     
       2. The die module of claim  1  wherein said clamping structure further includes a fixed member depending from said die body and cooperating with said hinged member to secure said nozzle to said mounting surface, said hinged member being moveable forward and away from said fixed member whereby movement of said hinged member in one direction causes said clamping structure to forcefully engage said nozzle securing said nozzle to said mounting surface, and movement of said hinged member in the opposite direction moves said clamping structure apart permitting said nozzle to be removed from said mounting surface. 
     
     
       3. The die module of claim  1  wherein said nozzle is a meltblowing die tip. 
     
     
       4. The die module of claim  1  wherein said nozzle is selected from the group consisting of meltblown die tips, spiral nozzles, bead nozzles, spray nozzles, and coating nozzles. 
     
     
       5. The die module of claim  2  wherein each of said clamping members includes wedging surfaces engageable with opposite sides of said nozzle to impart an inward and upward clamping force on said nozzle attendant to movement of said hinged member in said one direction whereby said clamping members force said nozzle upwardly into sealing engagement with said mounting surface. 
     
     
       6. The die module of claim  2  wherein said hinged member comprises a retainer plate having a lower end engageable with one side of said nozzle, said plate being secured to said die body by a bolt whereby turning said bolt in one direction causes said plate to move into forceful engagement with said one side of said nozzle and turning said bolt in the opposite direction causes said plate to move away from said one side of said nozzle. 
     
     
       7. The die module of claim  6  wherein said retainer plate further includes a spring for biasing said plate away from said nozzle. 
     
     
       8. The die module of claim  1  wherein said valve means includes a movable member selected from a piston or diaphragm mounted in said die body, a valve seat formed in said polymer melt flow passage, a valve stem having an upper end secured to said moveable member and a lower end adapted to seat on said valve seat and means for selectively moving said moveable member (a) upwardly whereby said lower end of said valve stem moves off said valve seat, and (b) downwardly whereby said lower end of said valve stem seats on said valve seat. 
     
     
       9. The die module of claim  8 , wherein said moveable member is a diaphragm. 
     
     
       10. A modular die assembly for depositing a hot melt adhesive onto a substrate which comprises: 
       (a) a manifold having adhesive and air passages formed therein;  
       (b) a plurality of substantially identical modular die bodies mounted in side-by-side relation on said manifold, each of said die bodies having an inner surface in contact with said manifold and an opposite outer surface facing outwardly from said manifold and having an adhesive passage and an air passage in fluid communication with said adhesive passage and air passage of said manifold exiting through a downwardly facing mounting surface;  
       (c) an air-assisted die nozzle mounted on said mounting surface of each of said die bodies, each of said die nozzles having an adhesive flow passage and an air passage formed therein in fluid communication with said adhesive flow passage and air flow passage, respectively, of said die body, the improvement comprising a pair of members depending from said die body for clampingly engaging opposite sides of said die nozzle, at least one of said members being hingedly secured to said die body for allowing selective pivotal movement of said one member toward the other member to clamp said die nozzle therebetween.  
     
     
       11. The modular die assembly of claim  10  wherein each die body includes a meltblowing nozzle secured thereto, and at least one side module includes a spiral nozzle. 
     
     
       12. The modular die assembly of claim  10  wherein each die nozzle is selected from the group consisting of meltblowing, spiral, and spray nozzles, said nozzles being interchangeable on each die module. 
     
     
       13. The modular die assembly of claim  10  wherein said members include a nonmoveable clamping member depending from a back surface of said module and a moveable clamping member depending from and secured to a front surface of said module, and means for applying a clamping force to said moveable clamping member to clampingly engage said die nozzle between said moveable and nonmoveable members. 
     
     
       14. The module die assembly of claim  13  wherein said moveable clamping member is in the form of a plate, and said means for applying a force thereto is a bolt extending through said plate and threadedly mounted on said front surface of said die body, whereby turning said bolt in one direction causes said plate to apply a clamping force on said nozzle and turning of said bolt in the opposite direction releases said clamping force on said nozzle, permitting said nozzle to be removed from said die body. 
     
     
       15. The modular die assembly of claim  14  and further comprising a spring interposed between said plate and said die body to bias said plate outwardly. 
     
     
       16. The modular die assembly of claim  14  wherein said moveable clamping member and said nonmoveable clamping member each includes an inwardly projecting wedge surface for contacting said nozzle therebetween and forcing said nozzle upwardly into forceful engagement with said mounting die body surface. 
     
     
       17. A die module for dispensing liquids, the module comprising: 
       a die body having a liquid inlet passage and a liquid outlet passage,  
       a valve disposed within said die body and moveable between open and closed positions to respectively allow and prevent liquid flow through said liquid outlet passage,  
       a nozzle coupled to said die body and having a dispensing orifice communicating with said liquid outlet passage, and  
       a spring-biased clamping member coupled with said die body and engaging said nozzle, said clamping member being spring biased away from said die body and moveable between clamped and unclamped positions relative to said nozzle to allow said nozzle to be quickly attached to and removed from said die body.  
     
     
       18. The die module of claim  17 , wherein said spring-biased clamping member is secured to said die body with a hinge structure. 
     
     
       19. The die module of claim  18  further comprising a stationary clamping member positioned on an opposite side of said nozzle relative to said spring-biased clamping member and said nozzle is held between said spring-biased clamping member and said stationary clamping member. 
     
     
       20. The die module of claim  19  further comprising respective wedging surfaces on said nozzle, said stationary clamping member and said spring-biased clamping member, said wedging surfaces holding said nozzle on said die body.